[van-announce] Announcing the 2010 People's Health Series

[Martha Roberts]

The Alliance for People's Health announces the People's Health Series 2010!

Please see the information below, and the attached brochure and poster for
more information.  If you are interested in participating, we encourage you
to register early, as we do anticipate all spaces will fill.

http://aphvan.wordpress.com/peoples-health-series/


*The People’s Health Series is:*

-        Popular education

-        Preventative health information

-        Shared analysis of health issues

-        Connecting health to social justice

-        Community action for change

*Who can participate in the People’s Health Series?*

The People’s Health Series is intended for:

-          Anyone interested in making positive changes in their own health,
as well as the health of their families and communities;

-          Those interested in becoming volunteers or Community Health
Advocates with the Alliance for People’s Health;

-          Students from health sciences, social sciences, and related
community studies who are interested in expanding their understanding and
practices related to community health;

*What’s Involved in the People’s Health Series?*

The People’s Health Series has four core components:

v  *Popular Education *where we collective our experiences on the particular
topics, analyze those experiences, and strategize changes to improve
individual as well as community health in a participatory fashion;

v  *Group Activities* to build hands-on practical skills during the People’s
Health Series;

v  *Personal Change and Reflection* incorporated into each session to
encourage each group members to take action to improve our own health;

v  *Community Health Project Planning* to support the development of new
community health projects, and expand current community health projects such
as the Food Action Collective for Sustainability and Transformation (FACTS).

*Schedule of Activities:*

*May 30: Does Capitalism Make You Sick? Biomedical vs. Preventative Health*

Learn about and discuss the different ways societies approach meeting the
health needs of their communities and how this ultimately impacts our health
as individuals, families, and communities.  Share our own experiences of
health/ill-health and how we can make changes as individuals, but more
importantly, how communities can take action for health.

*June 6: Smile with Dignity! Dental Care is a Human Right*

Share our experiences with dental care and analyze the connections between
poverty and poor dental health. Discuss the connection between dental health
and overall health. Learn about and participate in the APH campaign to
include dental care under the current Medical Services Plan in BC.

**

*June 13: What’s on the Table? Food Justice and Community Health*

Consider who has access to healthy food in our society. Examine what foods
are available in our communities and discuss the production and distribution
of food. Obesity and malnutrition are two sides of the same coin; ask
ourselves, what is really making people sick? Is it really about choice?
Take action! What can communities do to improve food justice?

 J*une 20: Food Justice Survey & Community Mapping*

Divide into teams and survey the Mount Pleasant neighbourhood to examine
what is the community’s access to food.  Return to the Organizing Centre,
pool our data, and discuss the implications for health of our findings. What
role does the market play in determining our right to nutritious foods? What
kinds of actions have communities taken to improve food justice?

**

*June 27: Free Our Minds: Stress, Anxiety, and the State of Society*

Share our experiences of stress and anxiety with a focus on the sources of
our stress.  What do we share in common?  Step back and examine the
contradiction between our personal values and aspirations versus the
expectations we face under capitalism.  Share tips on how to manage stress
and anxiety, and go deeper to strategize collective actions for change.

*July 4: Written On Our Bodies: Back Pain, Neck Pain, and Physical Activity*

Are you or someone you know living with chronic pain?  As a group examine
our experiences of pain and injury.  Why are people in pain? What is the
source of this pain? Discuss what we can do to treat, as well as prevent
injury and pain. Examine the relationship between physical wellness,
employment, income, and community design.  What can we do as individuals and
a society to improve our physical well being?

*July 11: Community Kitchen for Social Justice!*

Collectively plan and prepare a meal to share with the People’s Health
Series participants. Build skills in the kitchen while having a dinner to
celebrate the People’s Health Series 2010!

*Date TBA:  ‘Smile with Dignity’ Dental Campaign Action*

Take action as a part of the APH campaign to include dental care under MSP.
This action will include a participatory ‘speak out’ component – details to
be announced in the People’s Health Series.

* *

*Logistics:*

*Registration and Participation*: pre-registration is required for
participation; full participation in all sessions and activities is
required.  Please complete the registration form and either send it to us by
e-mail, mail, or drop it off at the Organizing Centre for Social and
Economic Justice.*
*

*Session Times*: with the exception of the Smile with Dignity campaign
action, all activities will take place *Sundays from 11:00 am sharp to 2:00
pm*.

*Food and Childcare:* will be available at each session. If you require
childcare, you must let us know in advance. We will provide childcare on
site with prior notice.

*Materials:* all materials will be provided free of charge.

Register early as the People’s Health Series 2010 has spaces for a maximum
of 16 participants and spaces will fill!
-- 
Alliance for People's Health
allianceforpeopleshealth at gmail.com
604-215-2775
672 E Broadway
Vancouver, BC V5T 1X6

http://aphvan.wordpress.com/
http://smilewithdignity.wordpress.com/

-- 
Martha Roberts, Registered Midwife
South Community Birth Program
www.scbp.ca
http://aphvan.wordpress.com/
http://philippinessolidarity2008.blogspot.com
http://maslamanibrigade.blogspot.com/

"Development with social justice can take place only when we are clear where
injustice is taking place."
Anne Hope